Jean-Marie Valentin
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Jean-Marie Valentin (; 17 October 1823 – 8 August 1896) was a French architect and sculptor specialising in religious furnishings such as
pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, accesse ...
s, altars and statues. Born in
Bourg-des-Comptes Bourg-des-Comptes (; ; Gallo: ''Bórg-Cons'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. Geography The river Semnon forms all of the commune's southern border, then flows into the Vilaine, which forms a ...
,
Ille-et-Vilaine Ille-et-Vilaine (; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Ill-e-Vilaenn'', ) is a departments of France, department of France, located in the regions of France, region of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in the northwest of the country. It is named a ...
, he died in the 6th arrondissement of Paris at age 72. His father Antoine Louis Valentin (born 1784) was a master carpenter working mostly in ebony. Jean-Marie first worked at his father's workshop. In 1842, he studied at the École Municipale de Dessin et Sculpture in
Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...
(this became the École Régionale des Beaux-Arts in 1881). He was taught sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Barré. In 1845, he received a bursary from the city of
Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...
and travelled to Paris where he worked at a studio together with a Rennes sculptor called François Lanno. He then worked at the studio of
François Rude François Rude (; 4 January 1784 – 3 November 1855) was a French sculptor, best known for the ''Departure of the Volunteers'', also known as ''La Marseillaise'' on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. (1835–36). His work often expressed patriotic t ...
. In around 1850 he settled back in Rennes and started to specialise in church furnishings. His works are numerous and can be seen throughout Ille-et-Vilaine. His first masterpiece was the pulpit erected in the Église Sainte-Croix à
Saint-Servan Saint-Servan (; often abbreviated as St. Servan; ) is a town of western France, in Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, situated 2 miles from the ferry port of Saint-Malo. It is renowned for its shops and restaurants. History In June 1758, ...
, a suburb of
Saint-Malo Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo language, Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany. The Fortification, walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth ...
). This had been promoted and funded by
Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was President of France from 1848 to 1852 and then Emperor of the French from 1852 until his deposition in 1870. He was the first president, second emperor, and last ...
during his visit to Brittany in 1858. During this visit, the church's curate, Monsieur Huchet, had brought the church to the Emperor's attention, highlighting the fact that it lacked furnishings. The Emperor was generous and the pulpit was the result. Jean-Marie was assisted by his brother Antoine, as was often the case, and the pulpit was indeed signed "Valentin Frères, Architectes et sculpteurs". Many years later Valentin completed the memorial to Huchet in the Saint-Malo cathedral. Perhaps his best-known work was on the Saint-Yves funeral monument in the cathedral at
Tréguier Tréguier (; ) is a port town in the French department of Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany, northwestern France. It is the capital town of the province of Trégor. Geography Tréguier is located 36 m. N.W. of Saint-Brieuc by road. The port is situat ...
. For this work he received a prize in 1888 from the "Salon des Artistes français" where it was shown before installation in the cathedral.


Works


Église paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

For this church in
Ercé-près-Liffré Ercé-près-Liffré (, literally ''Ercé near Liffré''; ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is about 20 km northeast of Rennes. Population Inhabitants of Ercé-près-Liffré are called ...
's place de l'Eglise, Valentin created the work "Education de la Vierge" in 1861.


Cathédrale Saint-Samson, place de la Cathédrale (Dol-de-Bretagne)

Valentin executed the altar and altarpiece dedicated to saint Gilduin de Chartres and saint Méen in this cathedral in 1873. The wall behind the altar is painted with medallions in quinconce holding the letters "S.G" and "S.M.", these surrounded by a neo-gothic frieze painted by the Rennes artist Lemoine. The altar includes a bronze reliquary by Placide Poussièlgue-Rusand and a small terra cotta figure of a hermit by an unknown artist. Valentin also worked on the Sacré Coeur altar in the cathedral but not the four statues which form part of the altar. Two of these statues, those of saint Peter and saint Paul, are by the sculptor Robert Froc. Another altar in Dol cathedral by Valentin is that dedicated to saint Gilles and saint Roch and it is thought that the statues of Gilles, Roch and saint Thuriau de Dol are possibly the work of Valentin but this is not clear. Also in the cathedral is Valentin's statue of 1872 entitled "l'Education de la Vierge". This was at one time part of the altar and altarpiece dedicated to Sainte-Anne by the sculptor Augerie executed in 1899 but taken down in 1975. In 1876, Valentin also worked on the cathedral's Saint Michel altar and altarpiece. Apart from the statue of Saint Michel, the work also includes a statue of Saint Louis and Saint Sebastian.


Église paroissiale Saint-Martin

For this parish church in Hédé, Valentin executed a statue of saint Joseph in 1866.


Église paroissiale Sainte-Trinité

For this church in
Saint-Thual Saint-Thual (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Saent-Tuau'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine Departments of France, department in Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of Sai ...
, Jean-Marie Valentin worked on the saint Joseph altar in 1874. Some scholars also attribute Valentin with the works in this church "Saint Joseph et l'Enfant", the statues of Sainte Philomène, saints Méen and Tugdual and the work "Vierge à l'Enfant" but this attribution is not 100% certain.


Église paroissiale Saint-Malo

For this church in Le Minihic-sur-Rance's place de l' Église rue du Général de Gaulle, Valentin created the main altar in stone in 1867 decorated with a sculpted group in plaster representing the
Assumption Assumption, in Christianity, refers to the Assumption of Mary, a belief in the taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Assumption may also refer to: Places * Assumption, Alberta, Canada * Assumption, Illinois, United States ** Assumption Town ...
("Assomption de la Vierge"). Ten years later Valentin produced a similar composition in stone for the Église Sainte-Croix de Saint-Servan (Saint-Malo). The composition is thought to have been inspired by the painting by
Nicolas Poussin Nicolas Poussin (, , ; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a French painter who was a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome. Most of his works were on religious and mythologic ...
.


Église Saint-Sulpice

For this church in
Montreuil-le-Gast Montreuil-le-Gast (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Montroelh-le-Gast'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine Departments of France, department of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhab ...
, Valentin executed a limestone altarpiece for the main altar. It comprised a cavalry with angels placed on either side. The work dates to 1861. For the same church, Valentin created the altarpiece for the main altar.


Chapelle du collège Saint Martin in Rennes

Valentin carved the tympanum above the chapel's entrance. It depicts Saint Martin giving his cloak to a beggar.


Other works

* For the church in Renazé Valentin created the "Saint Rosaire" altar, several statues and two bas-reliefs. * For the church in Brusvily Valentn created three altars and a pulpit carved from stone. * For the church in Forges la Forêt Valentin created three altars decorated with statues and bas-reliefs. * For the church in Brain sur les Marches Valentin created two altars in stone, some bas-reliefs and several statues.


Memorials to notable clerics

Valentin was commissioned to create several memorial monuments to notable churchmen. These include the memorial to Abbé Huchet in Saint Malo cathedral, to Aubrée in Vitré, to Fouré in La Guerche de Bretagne and to Meslé at the base of the tower of Notre Dame in Rennes. He also executed two memorials to Monseigneur Brossay Saint Marc, one in Bourg des Comptes and the other in Rennes cathedral. He also executed the maquette for the monument to Monseigneur Gonindard in Rennes cathedral. He died before the monument was completed but this was completed by his workshop.


Memorial to Abbé Aubrée

For the Vitré Église Notre-Dame, Valentin created this memorial to Abbé Aubrée.


Memorial to Abbé Fourré

For the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de La Guerche-de-Bretagne, Valentin executed the memorial to Abbé Fourré. He also created a large statue of saint Joseph for this church.


Memorial to the Vénérable Jean Eudes

For the
Caen Caen (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune inland from the northwestern coast of France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Calvados (department), Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inha ...
Église de Notre Dame, Valentin executed the memorial to the Vénérable Jean Eudes. This was inaugurated on 23 August 1885. Valentin depicts a kneeling Eudes at the feet of the
Holy Virgin Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under various titles such as virgin or queen, many of them mentioned in the Litany of Loret ...
who holds the
Infant Jesus The Christ Child—also known as Baby Jesus, Infant Jesus, Child Jesus, Divine Child, Divine Infant and the Holy Child—refers to Jesus Christ during his early years. The term refers to a period of Jesus' life, described in the canonical Gospe ...
in her arms.


Memorial to Curé Joseph Meslé

For the Église Notre Dame en Saint-Melaine in
Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...
, Valentin executed a memorial to Curé Joseph Meslé in 1873. For this church Valentin also executed statues of saint Peter and saint Amand which decorate the church's tower.


Memorials to Monseigneur Brossay-Saint-Marc

Valentin created two memorials to Monseigneur Brossay-Saint-Marc. One is to be found in the Métropole Saint-Pierre Rennes and the other in
Bourg-des-Comptes Bourg-des-Comptes (; ; Gallo: ''Bórg-Cons'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. Geography The river Semnon forms all of the commune's southern border, then flows into the Vilaine, which forms a ...
's Notre-Dame church. In the Métropole Saint-Pierre Rennes work, the cardinal is depicted on his knees, his hands clasped together in prayer. The work is in marble. The inauguration took place on 6 May 1884. File:Bourg-des-Comptes (35) Église 05.jpg, Monseigneur Brossay-Saint-Marc's memorial in Bourg-des-Comptes. This work was inaugurated on 19 September 1880. File:Rennes (35) Métropole Saint-Pierre Statue de Mgr Brossay-Saint-Marc 02.jpg, The monument to Monseigneur Brossay-Saint-Marc in Rennes. File:Rennes - Cathédrale Saint-Pierre 120908-01.jpg, Saint Peter cathedral in Rennes. File:Rennes - Cathédrale Saint-Pierre - Statue du cardinal Brossay-Saint Marc - 20080706.jpg, The monument to Monseigneur Brossay-Saint-Marc in Rennes. File:Métropole de Rennes Tombeau de Mgr Gonindard.jpg, The tomb of Monseigneur Gonindard in Rennes.


Bain de Bretagne

The pulpit in Bain de Bretagne's church is by Valentin and regarded as one of his finest works. Carved in white stone it is decorated with bas-reliefs and ornate carvings. In the same church Valentin created the main altar with a bas-relief depicting the
Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, ''The Last Supper (Leonardo), The Last Supper'' (1495-1498). Mural, tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic ...
. Side chapels in the church depict the descent from the cross and the "Bon Pasteur".


Église paroissiale Saint-Quentin

For this parish church in Saint-Ganton, Valentin completed the main altar.


Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Trinité, Saint-Augustin

This parish church in
Plerguer Plerguer (; ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of Plerguer are called in French ''Plerguerrois''. See also *Communes of the Ille-et-Vilaine department The following ...
has an altar by Valentin.


Église paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

For this parish church in
Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets (; ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets are called ''jouannais'' in French. See also *Communes of the Ille-et-Vilai ...
, Valentin executed a pulpit in 1880.


The Stations of the Cross in Rennes Cathedral

In the
Rennes Cathedral Rennes Cathedral () is a Roman Catholic church architecture, church located in the town of Rennes, France. It has been a monument historique since 1906. The cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter, is the seat of the Archbishops of Rennes, Archbisho ...
, Valentin worked on the "Chemin de Croix" ("Stations of the Cross") from 1878 to 1883.


Église paroissiale Saint-Pierre

For this church in
Plélan-le-Grand Plélan-le-Grand (; Gallo: ''Pilelan'', ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of Plélan-le-Grand are called ''Plélanais'' in French. See also *Communes of the Ille-et- ...
, Valentin executed many statues including Sainte Marguerite de Cortone, a "Dormition de la Vierge", a "Vierge à l'Enfant", Saint Jean, Saint Joseph, Saint Fiacre, Sainte Anne and the work "Sainte Anne obtient des guérisons". All these works date to 1859 and decorate side altars.


Église Sainte-Croix de Saint-Servan (Saint-Malo)

For this church and apart from the pulpit mentioned earlier, Valentin completed thirteen statues in 1863. Those in the nave depicted a "Mère des Douleurs", an "Ecce Homo",
John the Evangelist John the Evangelist ( – ) is the name traditionally given to the author of the Gospel of John. Christians have traditionally identified him with John the Apostle, John of Patmos, and John the Presbyter, although there is no consensus on how ...
,
Francis de Sales Francis de Sales, Congregation of the Oratory, C.O., Order of Minims, O.M. (; ; 21 August 156728 December 1622) was a Savoyard state, Savoyard Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Geneva and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He became n ...
, saintes Cecilia and Barbe, and saints Étienne and Godefroy, whilst those in the choir included Aaron and Melchisédech.


Église Notre Dame d'Emeraude

For this church in
Dinard Dinard (; , ; Gallo: ''Dinard'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, Brittany, northwestern France. Dinard is on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a holiday destination, and this has resul ...
Valentin created the main altar with a bas-relief depicting
Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
giving communion to his apostles. This was badly damaged during the 1944 bombings but is still kept standing in the church. The composition includes large statues of Saint Enogat and Saint Clément, the patron saints of the parish. For the same church Valentin created the pulpit decorated with three large statues, several statuettes and bas-reliefs.


La cathédrale de Tréguier

This work of 1890 is perhaps Valentin's most famous work. The original tomb in Tréguier cathedral had been destroyed during the French Revolution. The work is carved from white stone apart from the steps and table which are granite. Saint Yves lies in the centre of the work and around him are more than fifty smaller figures. Yves is presented lying on a chest which serves as a sarcophagus. He is clothed in his great white cloak, his shoulders are covered with his chaperone whilst his head resting on a piece of rock supported by two angels. The surrounding figures include his parents, his friends and followers, Charles de Blois, Philippe de Valois, Clément XI, Jean V. the bishop of Saint Brieuc. Donatun and Rogatun de Nantes, the kings Judicaël and Salomon and Saint Gildas de Ruiz, the first to write the history of the Breton people. The sculpture was shown at the 1888 salon de la société des Artistes Français before being placed in the cathedral.


Miscellaneous

According to the Abbé Pocquet du Haut Jussé's study " Le Mobilier Religieux au 19ème siècle en Ille-et-Vilaine" there are also works by Valentin in Saint Brieuc, Sainte Anne d'Auray, Pontmain, Saint Meen le Grand, Guingand, Lannion, Sillé le Guillaume and Redon. He died whilst working on the statue of Monseigneur Godinard the archbishop of Rennes. This work was finished by his sons including Paul Valentin who was born in Rennes on 26 August 1871.


References


External links


Site Mémoire et Art: génération Valentin
See in particular the section "Le Mobilier Religieux au XIXè". {{DEFAULTSORT:Valentin, Jean-Marie 19th-century French painters 1823 births 1896 deaths Breton art People from Ille-et-Vilaine French sculptors